William Clegg, shuttle maker of Cobden, built Vale Mill about 1854. He added a second shed in 1855 for 200 looms, and later a third shed. About 1860 a new engine house and bed was erected at Vale Mill. As a result of the cotton famine 1862-64, William Clegg failed. His property was sold and 4/6d in the £ was paid to the creditors. Clegg went back to shuttle and rake making. He died in August 1889 aged 84.

William Clegg sold those parts of Vale Mill (about half) occupied by Shepherd & Sutcliffe, John Stevenson, Uriah Brook and John Sunderland to Shepherd & Sutcliffe. Mr. Clegg then began to erect another shed on the site of his late water-cooling dam on the opposite side of Stansfield Road.

Shepherd & Sutcliffe of Todmorden – a new firm – were one of the first tenants in the mill built about 1854 by William Clegg, shuttle maker of Cobden. Later, Mr. Clegg built a third mill of 2 storeys with large shed behind, and Shepherd & Sutcliffe took over and began to card and spin as well as weave. Their rooms in shed no.1 were let to new tenants including James Gibson of York Street, Todmorden, fustian dealer and clothier. James Gibson later built his own mill known as Gibson’s Mill near Stackhills and moved his looms there.

Shepherd & Sutcliffe were exceptionally successful and purchased from William Clegg the place they occupied, and also those occupied by John Stevenson, Uriah Brook and John Sunderland. They provided the power for themselves and their tenants and laid new water pipes from the river.

John Stevenson was one of the first tenants in Vale Mill (2nd shed) on Stansfield Road, built in 1855 by William Clegg. He occupied the first section. He began with a few looms for which he had room and power with Dugdale and Mills at BOTTOMS MILL Walsden. From there he went to Vale Mill, Tipside. He later bought SHADE MILL.

John Uttley was one of the first tenants at Vale Mill. He was previously a master plumber and glazier.

John Sunderland was one of the first tenants at Vale Mill, in the second shed built about 1855. He made piece goods for the Manchester market. Uriah Brook was also one of the first tenants in this second shed, and he also made piece goods for the Manchester market.

Andrew Pilling was also one of the first tenants at Vale Mill. He had, for a short time, been at BANKS MILL, Dulesgate. After Vale, he moved to CROWCARR INGS.

Barker Sutcliffe of Nanholme Mill previously had room and power at Clegg’s Vale Mill.

William Fielden had previously been in business in a small way before becoming one of the first tenants at Vale Mill, built in 1854.

Additional information

partly researched, recorded and referenced by Mrs Sheila Wade

Hebden Bridge WEA Local History Group

Stansfield Rates Book

Stansfield Rates Book 1854

Owned and occupied by William Clegg; West Barr; mill and power; rateable value £107.

Sale by auction. Powerloom shed situated in Stansfield, Todmorden. With engine etc. Now or late in the occupation of Messrs. Shepherd & Sutcliffe and others. 2270 square yards of land. 999 years lease from 5th May 1852 at £28.7s.6d ground rent. Shed new and can hold 400 looms. Engine 22hp. Particulars William Clegg, cotton manufacturer, Todmorden.

Halifax Courier 18th January 1862

William Clegg of Stansfield, mill owner, discharged from prison after having been adjudicated a bankrupt.

Halifax Guardian 22nd March 1862

William Clegg of Vale Mill, Stansfield, mill owner, bankrupt.

Halifax Guardian 29th March 1862

William Clegg attributed his bankruptcy principally to the erection of a mill that cost about £6,000 and was sold recently for £2,600.

Death of Mr. William Sutcliffe of Rose Bank Todmorden (of the firm of Messrs Shepherd and Sutcliffe, Vale Mill) He had been a superintendent of BRIDGE STREET SUNDAY SCHOOL 20 years, and one of the oldest Trustees of the chapel.

3 Nov 1876

Alarming and destructive Fire occurred about 5-40pm at Messrs Shepherd & Sutcliffe’s mill fronting Stansfield Road. Damage about £8000. Fall of the wall after the fire, December 8th. One person in the mill had a narrow escape. Fielden’s fire engine attended.

White 1877

Shepherd and Sutcliffe – cotton manufacturers – Vale Mills.

Halifax Guardian 20th July 1878

Petition for liquidation by James Shepherd and Henry Shepherd of Vale Mill, Todmorden, cotton spinners and manufacturers trading as Shepherd & Sutcliffe. Liabilities estimated at £19,000.

James Shepherd, owner of Vale Mill, summonsed for non-payment of Poor Rate. Pleaded that only half his premises were occupied, and also held that his undertenants should pay.

Halifax Courier 13th June 1885

James Shepherd, formerly cotton manufacturer at Vale Mill, Todmorden, also for some time a member of Todmorden Board of Guardians and the Local Board, was jailed for non-payment of rates on a warrant issued in 1883.

To let, room and power for a few hundred looms in lots to suit tenants, on lease or otherwise. Thomas West, Vale Mill, Todmorden.

Manchester Examiner 22nd July 1887

Thomas West, 164 looms running full time.

Todmorden Advertiser 21st March 1890

Vale Mill, Stansfield Road, stopped due to strike in coal trade.

Worral 1891

Thomas West, Vale Mill, 164 looms, drills, twills, domestics etc.

Kelly 1893

Thomas West, Vale Mill Stansfield Road, cotton manufacturer.

Kelly 1895

Thomas West, 266 looms, Vale Mill, Stansfield Road

Kelly 1897

Thomas West, Vale Mill, Stansfield Road, cotton manufacturer.

Kelly 1898-1907

Thomas West, Vale Mill, Stansfield Road, cotton manufacturer.

Kelly 1908

Thomas West, Vale Mill, Stansfield Road, cotton manufacturer

Todmorden News 14th September 1900

After a somewhat lengthy illness, Councillor Thos. West, cotton manufacturer, 42 Stansfield Road, Todmorden, breathed his last early on Saturday morning, the first public intimation of his death being the hoisting of flags half-mast at the Town Hall and the Liberal Club. He had not been in good health for about three years, since an accident set up blood poisoning in his finger: for many months back he suffered from nervous debility which ultimately affected his heart. Dr. Thorn, his medical attendant, advised a visit to Colwyn Bay, and after a six weeks stay Councillor West returned home a fortnight ago, unfortunately the improvement sought for was not attained. N the contrary, Councillor West had become worse, and the end came as stated above.

Deceased, who was 56 years of age, was the son of Mr. Martin West. After being brought up as a weaver, he and his father entered the cotton manufacturing business at Canteen shed, Lydgate, nearly 30 years ago. Mr. Martin West ultimately withdrew from the concern, which was carried on by Mr. Thos. West until about the year 1883, when he obtained possession of Vale Mills, Stansfield Road, sub-letting such portions as he did not require for his own purposes. He has carried on a successful business there ever since...

James Gibson of Vale Mill treated his work people at the WHISKET INN, Shade.

Fielden papers 8th April 1858

Letter from Fielden Bros. to James Gibson. You have not thought fit to take any notice of our letter of the 15th. In which we requested payment of our account for warps. Unless the amount is paid by Saturday night we shall instruct our solicitor to take the necessary steps for recovering the same.

George or Joseph Stansfield

cotton manufacturer

Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Advertiser 19th November 1859

Treat to weavers. On Saturday evening last, the hands in the employ of Mr. George Stansfield of Vale Mill were treated to supper at the Bay Horse. Mr. Stansfield was called upon to preside when the dancing commenced … and was now among the now almost daily example of masters and work people becoming more to understand the fact that the interest of masters and workmen are so linked together as to call for unity of purpose and effect to ensure stability and success.

Halifax Guardian 25th April 1863

County Court

On Saturday, a court was held before C. Temple, Esq., Judge. The following cases were tried:

Stansfield v. Farrar and Hargreaves - Plaintiff was Mr. Joseph Stansfield, Vale Mill and the defendants Messrs. Farrar and Hargreaves of Crescent Mill. The action was for the balance owing on the sale of eight warps, the price of which was 1s.9d per pound, and the total amount was £57.2s.9d. They were sold on the 10th September and £30 was paid on account in October. Some deduction had to be made for short weight, which left a balance owing of £5.9s.7d halfpenny. The defence was that the warps were represented to be good ones, that they were not so, but actually incapable of being woven; that the plaintiff knew they were not good, having actually tried to wind one on, when, according to his own admission, it would try whether they were good or not. His honour gave a verdict for the plaintiff for the full amount sought.

Redman Bros. Vale Mill Stansfield Road, Todmorden and Foster Mill Hebden Bridge, established in Todmorden 1887. The oldest existing clothing manufacturers in town. Established at Hebden Bridge in the 1870’s, opened a Todmorden branch in 1888 renting part of Thomas West’s cotton mill at Vale Mill, Stansfield Road, West providing power for sewing, whisking and cutting. In 1901 they became part of the English Fustian Manufacturing Co.